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PHOTOS: Bradley Manning

“As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back,” Manning’s statement reads.

The statement also thanks supporters for letters and encouragement, donations and being at the trial.

Manning’s lawyer, David Coombs, said Manning wanted to wait until after the trial to release the statement so it wouldn’t “overshadow” the case, and said if Fort Leavenworth, where Manning is expected to serve time, doesn’t provide the treatment, they are prepared to fight for it however is necessary.

“I’m hoping that Fort Leavenworth would do the right thing and provide that. If Fort Leavenworth does not, then I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that they are forced to do so,” Coombs said.

Fort Leavenworth told Courthouse News on Tuesday that it does not provide sex-reassignment surgery or hormone therapy, but it does provide psychiatric care.

Manning’s attorney also denied that Manning’s public statement was an example of the narcissistic tendencies testified to at trial by psychologists. Coombs said Manning never intended for the secrets about his gender confusion that he told a computer hacker during online chats to come out.

“This is really trying to let people have the answer that they wanted,” Coombs said of Manning’s motivations. “She never really wanted this to be public to begin with, when the information came out, you need to understand that she gave it to Adrian Lamo in a very private setting, in a one-on-one chat, never expecting this to be public. Now that it is, unfortunately, you have to deal with it in a public manner.”

Coombs said he hasn’t spoken with Manning about sex-reassignment surgery and said Manning is not seeking to join a female prison population.

“I think the ultimate goal is to be comfortable in her skin, and to be the person that she’s never had an opportunity to be,” Coombs said.

A military judge on Wednesday sentenced Manning to 35 years in prison for leaking thousands of secret government documents to WikiLeaks, but with time served, Manning could get parole in seven years.

Coombs said he expects Manning would get parole, but the ultimate goal is a pardon from President Barack Obama.

“I actually expect him to get pardoned, at least that’s what my hope is, that the president will in fact pardon Pfc. Manning,” Coombs said.

A White House spokesman said if Manning wants to apply for a pardon, it will be considered like any other clemency application.